FORT SMITH, Arkansas — The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM) has announced the opening of its new exhibition, “John Bell, Jr. - Coming Home."
The exhibition opens Friday, Oct. 29, and will be the inaugural exhibition in the Sandi and Sandy Sanders Gallery for the Permanent Collection.
The artwork was gifted to the RAM from Bell’s family, which includes over 50 works, including original oil and watercolors, pen and ink and graphite drawings, many pieces never before seen in public.
The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum has created a new series of programs called The John Bell, Jr. Legacy Project, whose mission is to preserve, protect and educate about the art and life of John Bell, Jr.
To display this exhibition and other permanent collection pieces, a new gallery, the Sandi and Sandy Sanders Gallery for the Permanent Collection was created to display the exhibition and other permanent collection pieces.
To provide funding for the preservation, education and display of Bell’s art the John Bell, Jr. Legacy Society has been established and the RAM will serve as the new home of John Bell, Jr.
The “John Bell, Jr. – Coming Home” exhibition will be on view from Oct. 29, 2021, through Feb. 20, 2022. The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum is always free and located at 1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR, 72901.